Squash hybrid PX 13056719

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, more specifically, to the development of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and the inbred squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits in a single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any trait deemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield, resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, and nutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination. There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A cross between two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many gene loci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of loci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development of homozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection are examples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbred plants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine the genetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-based sources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derived therefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a squash plant of the hybrid designated PX 13056719, the squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079. Also provided are squash plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Parts of these squash plants are also provided, for example, including pollen, an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 comprising an added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a genetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 is defined as comprising a single locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of a line by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced through transformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. The squash seed of the invention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population of squash seed of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed are generally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seed of hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population of squash plants designated PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerable cells of a squash plant of hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 is provided. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating squash plants capable of expressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 include those traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides squash plants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided for producing squash seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generally comprise crossing a first parent squash plant with a second parent squash plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent squash plants is a plant of squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079. These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparing hybrid squash seed or plants, wherein a first squash plant is crossed with a second squash plant of a different, distinct genotype to provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079. In these processes, crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing” comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent squash plant, often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediated by insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually. Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without the need for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first and second parent squash plants into plants that bear flowers. A third step may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as by emasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination between the first and second parent squash plants. Yet another step comprises harvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent squash plants. The harvested seed can be grown to produce a squash plant or hybrid squash plant.

The present invention also provides the squash seeds and plants produced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent squash plant with a second parent squash plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent squash plants is a plant of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. In one embodiment of the invention, squash seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁) hybrid squash seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. The present invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid squash plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid squash plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing a plant derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079, wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant of the hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. The plant derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 may be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of producing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting at least one squash from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a squash plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides squash plant cells that have a genetic complement in accordance with the squash plant cells disclosed herein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles, and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic of the expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles. It is understood that hybrid PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 could be identified by any of the many well known techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybrid genetic complements, as represented by squash plant cells, tissues, plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid genetic complement of a squash plant of the invention with a haploid genetic complement of a second squash plant, preferably, another, distinct squash plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a squash plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid genetic complement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of the invention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unless specifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of the mean for the device or method being employed to determine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunction with the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, the words “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically noted otherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-ended linking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, such as “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and “including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlisted steps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and any specific examples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants, seeds and derivatives of squash hybrid PX 13056719, squash line LEB 48-4100 and squash line ZGN 130-1079. The hybrid PX 13056719 is produced by the cross of parent lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. The parent lines show uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed of hybrid PX 13056719 can be obtained.

PX 13056719 is a squash hybrid adapted to growing conditions with hot seasons, and in regions where there is a high rate of infection with Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV), such as Egypt. It has vigorous growth and good production in hot seasons. The fruit is a long, Lebanese-type squash.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Squash Hybrid PX 13056719

The parents of hybrid PX 13056719 are LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. These parents were created as follows:

LEB 48-4100 was developed from a cross between LEB 46-20, a proprietary breeding line owned by Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, and “Anita”, a commercial squash variety. Selections from this cross were self pollinated for 6 generations, with selection for fruit shape and color and resistance to Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV) and Watermelon Mosaic Virus II (WMV-II).

Squash line ZGN 130-1079 was developed by a selection strategy involving four components: (1) ZGN 130-1003—a proprietary breeding line contributing fruit quality characteristics and some potyvirus resistance that was derived directly from the commercial hybrid “Tigress”, (2) ZGY 46-2604—the original gray zucchini source of resistance to Squash Leaf Curl Virus (SLCV), distributed by Sergio Garza of Universidad de Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico, (3) G710—a proprietary breeding line contributing fruit quality characteristics, and (4) HP13HMW/HP134*1—a proprietary breeding line contributing high resistance to ZYMV, WMV-II, and Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV).

ZGY 46-2604 was crossed to a series of breeding lines, including G710 in order to develop breeding populations with a combination of SLCV resistance and acceptable fruit types. The resulting F1 progeny of this cross was backcrossed to G710, and the BC1F2, BC1F3, and BC1F4 generations were selected for fruit and plant characteristics without regard to SLCV virus resistance.

The self-pollinated BC1F5 progeny selections were included in a field trial in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in late summer (a location and date chosen for its history of SLCV epidemics) of year one (arbitrary designation). Heavy SLCV pressure and high levels of potyvirus infestations in the same field allowed for the selection of breeding lines with SLCV and potyvirus resistance. Nineteen selections (or remnant seed in the case of failed pollinations) were chosen to be planted in the greenhouse in February, year two and inoculated with SLCV. Four BC1F5 and BC1F6 families were selected for a high level of resistance to SLCV and for fruit quality characteristics.

The selected families were crossed to a series of 31 breeding lines in the spring of year two. During the summer of year two, these breeding lines were evaluated for virus resistance through individual and cocktail screens of potyviruses and for fruit quality characteristics. Ten hybrids were selected, and these ten hybrids were subsequently evaluated for resistance to SLCV in a nursery in late year two. The hybrid (ZGN130-1003/(ZGY46-2604/G710*1)) was selected for development of new germplasm. This hybrid was planted in the greenhouse in February, year three, and was crossed to line HP13HMW/HP134*1.

The resulting F1 population, known as (ZGN130-1003/(ZGY46-2604/G710*1F6))/(HP13HMW/HP134*1), was inoculated with a cocktail of ZYMV, WMV-II, and PRSV, and survivors were moved to the field in the summer of year three. This F1 population and all its progeny were re-named: (ZGN130-1003/(ZGY46-2604/G710*1F6))/(HP13HMW/HP134*1) was condensed to the acronym TAW. Thirty-seven individuals were selected from the TAW population based on potyvirus resistance and fruit and plant characteristics. The F2 generations from these 37 selections were sown in the greenhouse in Woodland, Calif. in January year four, and inoculated with ZYMV, WMV-II, PRSV, and SLCV. These F2 individuals were self-pollinated.

F3 families derived from the F2 individuals with high levels of SLCV resistance were inoculated with a cocktail of ZYMV, WMV-II, and PRSV, and resistant individuals were transplanted to a field in the summer of year four. One hundred and two F3 individuals were selected for self-pollination from this field based on their level of potyvirus resistance, and fruit and plant characteristics. Successful pollinations from the field-grown F3 generation were sown in various locations, and one F4 family from the lineage leading to ZGN-130-1079 was selected in year four where it was selected and selfed pollinated to make a single F5 family.

The F5 generation of the lineage leading to ZGN 130-1079 was inoculated with a cocktail of ZYMV, WMV-II, and PRSV in year five, and survivors were transferred to the field and self pollinated. One additional generation of self pollination was performed on this lineage in California in year six, so that the line ZGN 130-1079 represents all progeny of a single plant selection from the F6 generation.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Squash Hybrid PX 13056719, Squash Line LEB 48-4100 and Squash Line ZGN 130-1079

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and the parent lines thereof. A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PX 13056719 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC PX 13056719 Anita 1. Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable marrow) summer 4. Cotyledon length 38 mm 61 mm width 30 mm 32.2 mm apex rounded rounded veining plainly visible plainly visible color medium green light green color (RHS Color Chart) 137B 137B 5. Seedling shape of cotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color of medium (Cora) light cotyledons cross section of cotyledons concave straight 6.. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant type glabrous prickly 7.. Main Stem cross-section shape round round average diameter at mid-point of 1^(st) 26.6 mm 33.75 mm internode average length 33.8 cm 21.4 cm average number of internodes 25 23 8. Stem color completely green (Becky) partly green and partly yellow intensity of green color medium (Cinderella) medium mottling present (Cora) present tendrils absent to rudimentary absent to rudimentary (Goldrush, Sylvana) 9. Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only: attitude of semi-erect (Arlesa) semi-erect petiole (excluding lower external leaves) 10. Leaves blade shape ovate reniform blade form deep lobed deep lobed margin dentate denticulate margin edges frilled frilled average width 35.2 cm 34.2 cm average length 28.2 cm 29 cm leaf surface smooth blistered dorsal surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy vental surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy color medium green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 136B 139A leaf blotching blotched with gray blotched with gray leaf blade: size medium (Ambassador) large leaf blade: incisions medium (Jackpot) medium leaf blade: intensity of green color medium (Cora) dark of upper surface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac) present leaf blade: relative area covered by very small (Albo) medium silvery patches average petiole length 31.1 cm 24.9 cm petiole length medium (Goldi) medium petiole: number of prickles absent or very few (Kojac) medium 11. Flower pistillate flower: diameter 18.4 cm 14.1 cm pistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average pedicel 2.2 cm 2.3 cm length pistillate flower: margin shape curved curved pistillate flower: margin edges plain plain pistillate flower: average sepal 1.5 mm 1.7 mm width pistillate flower: average sepal 16.7 mm 7.1 mm length pistillate flower: color mid-yellow deep yellow staminate flower: color (RHS Color 17A 17A Chart) staminate flower: average sepal 37.9 mm 15.2 mm length staminate flower: average sepal 1.8 mm 2.3 mm width staminate flower: average pedicel 114 mm 152 mm length staminate flower: color mid-yellow deep yellow female flower: ring at inner side of present (Aurore) present corolla female flower: color of ring at inner green (Aurore, Early White green side of corolla Bush Scallop, President) female flower: intensity of green medium (Samba, Senator) medium color of ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla) male flower: ring at inner side of present (Goldi) present corolla male flower: color of ring at inner yellow and green (Alice, green side of corolla Carmina, Green Gem, Ibis) male flower: intensity of green strong (Goldi) medium color of ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla) staminate flower: color 21A 21A 12. Fruit market maturity: average length 16.8 cm 11.1 cm market maturity: average width - 3.7 cm 3.7 cm stem end market maturity: average width - 4.3 cm 4.6 cm blossom end market maturity: average weight 227 gm 163.8 gm market maturity: shape according straightneck straightneck to variety type market maturity: apex taper pointed taper pointed market maturity: base flattened flattened market maturity: ribs inconspicuous inconspicuous market maturity: rib furrow depth shallow shallow market maturity: rib furrow width medium wide narrow market maturity: fruit surface smooth smooth market maturity: warts none none blossom scar button slightly extended raised acron young fruit: ratio length/maximum medium (Cora) small diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit: general shape tapered elliptical (Top Kapi) pear shaped (zucchini and rounded zucchini type varieties) young fruit: main color of skin partly white and partly partly white and (excluding color of ribs or grooves) yellow partly green young fruit: intensity of yellow medium color of skin (excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color of skin) general shape club shaped pear shaped length (zucchini type varieties) long (Carlotta) short maximum diameter (zucchini type small (Goldi) large varieties) ratio length/maximum diameter very large (Tarquinio) medium (zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and neck pointed rounded type varieties) grooves present absent depth of grooves very shallow (Spooktacular) ribs present present protrusion of ribs very weak (Leda, Tivoli) weak main color of skin (excluding color green (Ambassador, Baby green of dots, patches, stripes and bands) Bear) intensity of green color of skin light very light (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands; varieties with green color or skin) stripes in grooves absent (Baby Bear, Jack Be absent Little) color of ribs compared to main same (Grey Zucchini) same color of skin (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands) dots present (Gold Rush, Table present Queen) size of main dots very small (Badger Cross) large secondary green color between ribs absent (Grey Zucchini, (excluding dots) Small Sugar) warts on skin absent absent size of flower scar medium (Spidi) medium length of peduncle medium (Cinderella) long color of peduncle green (Ambassador) green intensity of green color of peduncle light (Bianchini) medium mottling of peduncle absent (Sunburst) present ripe fruit: main color of skin yellow (Gold Rush) yellow (excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: intensity of main color of light dark skin (only yellow and orange) ripe fruit: secondary color of skin cream cream (excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: green hue (only white absent (Jedida) absent and cream) ripe fruit: color of flesh yellow (Sunburst, Vegetable yellow Spaghetti) ripe fruit: lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure of flesh fibrous (Vegetable fibrous Spaghetti) type zucchini if zucchini type: patches, stripes or present (Elite, Greyzini) bands in ripe stage 13. Rind average thickness at medial 2.5 mm 3.1 mm toughness hard hard overall color pattern regular irregular main or ground color orangish-white creamy-yellow main or ground color (RHS Color 159A 20C Chart) color of stripes yellowish-buff color of stripes (RHS Color Chart) 11C pattern of stripes not specific 14. Flesh average blossom end thickness 16.4 mm 20.8 mm average medial thickness 76.9 mm 42.1 mm average stem end thickness 24.9 mm 26.8 mm texture (fine, granular, lumpy or fine stringy stringy) texture (soft, firm or brittle) firm firm texture (dry, moist or juicy) moist moist flavor insipid insipid quality good good color yellowish-cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 3D 155C 15. Seed Cavity average length 33.2 cm 26 cm average width 7.3 cm 9.9 cm location conforms to fruit shape conforms to fruit shape placental tissues abundant abundant center core prominent prominent 16. Fruit Stalks average length 2.8 cm 3.2 cm average diameter 2.1 cm 2.4 cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted not twisted tapering not tapered not tapered straightness slightly curved straight texture spongy spongy furrows shallow deep surface spiny spiny attachment end expanded not expanded detaches with difficulty easily color light green medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 140B 144B 17. [[ds]] Seeds average length 14.9 mm 16.1 mm average width 8.6 mm 9.1 mm average thickness 1.9 mm 2.5 mm face surface wrinkled smooth color cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 162D 162C luster dull dull margin straight straight margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulp moderately easy easy average grams per 100 seeds 11.4 gm 15 gm average number of seeds per fruit 288 238 seed coat normal normal size large large shape broad elliptic (Baby Boo) broad elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) present appearance of hull fully developed (Elite) rudimentary color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line LEB 48-4100 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC LEB 48-4100 Anita 1. Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable summer marrow) 4. Cotyledon length 63.5 mm 61 mm width 29.4 mm 32.2 mm apex rounded rounded veining plainly visible plainly visible color medium green light green color (RHS Color Chart) 137B 137B 5. Seedling shape of cotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color of cotyledons medium (Cora) light cross section of cotyledons straight (Sunburst) straight 6. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant type glabrous prickly 7. Main Stem cross-section shape round round average diameter at mid-point of 1^(st) 26.4 mm 33.75 mm internode average length 43.2 cm 21.4 cm average number of internodes 24 23 8. Stem color completely green (Becky) partly green and partly yellow intensity of green color light (Bianchini) medium mottling absent (Cinderella) present tendrils absent to rudimentary absent to (Goldrush, Sylvana) rudimentary 9. Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) bush branching present (Patty Green Tint) absent degree of branching weak (Karioka, Verdi) bush varieties only: attitude of petiole semi-erect (Arlesa) semi-erect (excluding lower external leaves) 10. Leaves blade shape ovate reniform blade form deep lobed deep lobed margin dentate denticulate margin edges frilled frilled average width 34.2 cm 34.2 cm average length 27.1 cm 29 cm leaf surface blistered blistered dorsal surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy vental surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy color medium green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 136A 139A leaf blotching not blotched blotched with gray leaf blade: size medium (Ambassador) large leaf blade: incisions medium (Jackpot) medium leaf blade: intensity of green color of upper medium (Cora) dark surface leaf blade: silvery patches absent (Black Forest, present Scallopini) average petiole length 29.3 cm 24.9 cm petiole length medium (Goldi) medium petiole: number of prickles few (Opaline) medium 11. Flower pistillate flower: diameter 17.9 cm 14.1 cm pistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average pedicel length 3.7 cm 2.3 cm pistillate flower: margin shape curved curved pistillate flower: margin edges plain plain pistillate flower: average sepal width 2 mm 1.7 mm pistillate flower: average sepal length 30.9 mm 7.1 mm pistillate flower: color orange deep yellow pistillate flower: color (RHS Color Chart) 23A 17A staminate flower: average sepal length 28.9 mm 15.2 mm staminate flower: average sepal width 2.1 mm 2.3 mm staminate flower: average pedicel length 134.8 mm 152 mm staminate flower: color deep yellow deep yellow female flower: ring at inner side of corolla present (Aurore) present female flower: color of ring at inner side of green (Aurore, Early green corolla White Bush Scallop, President) female flower: intensity of green color of strong (Aristocrat, medium ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with Diamant) green ring at inner side of corolla) male flower: ring at inner side of corolla present (Goldi) present male flower: color of ring at inner side of green (Austral, Belor, green corolla Goldi) male flower: intensity of green color of medium (Verdi) medium ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla) staminate flower: color 17A 21A 12. Fruit market maturity: average length 15.7 cm 11.1 cm market maturity: average width - stem end 4.6 cm 3.7 cm market maturity: average width - blossom 5.2 cm 4.6 cm end market maturity: average weight 266.5 gm 163.8 gm market maturity: shape according to variety straightneck straightneck type market maturity: apex taper pointed taper pointed market maturity: base flattened flattened market maturity: ribs inconspicuous inconspicuous market maturity: rib furrow depth shallow shallow market maturity: rib furrow width narrow narrow market maturity: fruit surface fine wrinkle smooth market maturity: warts none none market maturity: blossom scar button raised acron raised acron young fruit: ratio length/maximum medium (Cora) small diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit: general shape (zucchini and tapered elliptical (Top pear shaped rounded zucchini type varieties) Kapi) young fruit: main color of skin (excluding green (Elite, Opal, partly white and color of ribs or grooves) Romano) partly green young fruit: intensity of green color of skin light (Arlika) light (excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color of skin) general shape cylindrical pear shaped length (zucchini type varieties) medium (Cora) short maximum diameter (zucchini type medium (Opal) large varieties) ratio length/maximum diameter (zucchini medium (Cora) medium type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and neck type pointed rounded varieties) grooves present absent depth of grooves very shallow (Spooktacular) ribs present present protrusion of ribs very weak (Leda, Tivoli) weak main color of skin (excluding color of dots, partly white and partly green patches, stripes and bands) green intensity of green color of skin (excluding very light very light color of dots, patches, stripes and bands; varieties with green color or skin) stripes in grooves absent (Baby Bear, Jack absent Be Little) color of ribs compared to main color of same (Grey Zucchini) same skin (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands) dots present (Gold Rush, present Table Queen) size of main dots small (Ambassador) large secondary green color between ribs absent (Grey Zucchini, (excluding dots) Small Sugar) warts on skin absent absent size of flower scar medium (Spidi) medium length of peduncle very long (Western long Sunrise) color of peduncle partly yellow and partly green green (Autumn Gold) intensity of green color of peduncle light (Blanchini) medium mottling of peduncle present (Elite) present ripe fruit: main color of skin (excluding yellow (Gold Rush) yellow color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: intensity of main color of skin medium dark (only yellow and orange) ripe fruit: secondary color of skin cream cream (excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: green hue (only white and absent (Jedida) absent cream) ripe fruit: color of flesh yellow (Sunburst, yellow Vegetable Spaghetti) ripe fruit: lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure of flesh fibrous (Vegetable fibrous Spaghetti) type rounded zucchini if zucchini type: patches, stripes or bands absent (Ambassador, in ripe stage Black Jack) 13. Rind average thickness at medial 2.3 mm 3.1 mm toughness hard hard overall color pattern regular irregular main or ground color yellowish-gray creamy-yellow main or ground color (RHS Color Chart) 162B 20C color of streaks greenish-gray yellowish-orange color of streaks (RHS Color Chart) 189B 16A pattern of streaks not specific not specific color of spots yellowish-buff creamy-brown color of spots (RHS Color Chart) 160C 162C pattern of spots not specific not specific 14. Flesh average blossom end thickness 11.9 mm 20.8 mm average medial thickness 43.4 mm 42.1 mm average stem end thickness 19.1 mm 26.8 mm texture (fine, granular, lumpy or stringy) lumpy stringy texture (soft, firm or brittle) soft firm texture (dry, moist or juicy) juicy moist flavor insipid insipid quality good good color whitish-cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 155D 155C 15. Seed Cavity average length 23 cm 26 cm average width 7.3 cm 9.9 cm location apex only conforms to fruit shape placental tissues abundant abundant center core inconspicuous prominent 16. Fruit Stalks average length 3.4 cm 3.2 cm average diameter 1.2 cm 2.4 cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted not twisted tapering tapered not tapered straightness slightly curved straight texture hard spongy furrows deep deep surface rough spiny attachment end slightly expanded not expanded detaches with difficulty easily color light green medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 143A 144B 17. [[ds]] Seeds average length 14.6 mm 16.1 mm average width 8 mm 9.1 mm average thickness 2 mm 2.5 mm face surface smooth smooth color cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 162C 162C luster dull dull margin straight straight margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulp difficult easy average grams per 100 seeds 8.2 gm 15 gm average number of seeds per fruit 134 238 seed coat normal normal size large large shape broad elliptic (Baby Boo) broad elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) present appearance of hull fully developed (Elite) rudimentary color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line ZGN 130-1079 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC ZGN 130-1079 Payroll 1. Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable marrow) summer 4. Cotyledon length 33 mm 50.1 mm width 27.3 mm 30.35 mm apex rounded rounded veining plainly visible plainly visible color medium green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 147A 5. Seedling shape of cotyledons broad elliptic (Cinderella, elliptic Goldi) intensity of green color of medium (Cora) dark cotyledons cross section of cotyledons straight (Sunburst) straight 6. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant type pilose prickly 7. Main Stem cross-section shape round round diameter at mid-point of 1st 22.5 mm 20.1 mm internode average length 21 cm 25.1 cm average number of internodes 27 25.4 8. Stem color completely green (Becky) completely green intensity of green color very dark (Goldrush) dark mottling absent (Cinderella) present tendrils well developed (Baby Bear, well developed Greyzini) 9. Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only: attitude of erect (Blanche non coureuse semi-erect petiole (excluding lower external 3, Yellow Crookneck) leaves) 10. Leaves blade shape reniform reniform blade form deep lobed deep lobed margin dentate dentate margin edges frilled frilled average width 35.5 cm 34.5 cm average length 28.3 cm 29.5 cm leaf surface blistered smooth dorsal surface pubescence glabrous soft hairy vental surface pubescence glabrous soft hairy color dark green medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 147A 137B leaf blotching blotched with gray blotched with gray leaf blade: size medium (Ambassador) medium leaf blade: incisions medium (Jackpot) medium leaf blade: intensity of green dark (Everest) medium color of upper surface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac) present leaf blade: relative area covered small (Aziz) large by silvery patches average petiole length 41.6 cm 35.45 cm petiole length long (Autumn Gold, Baikal) medium petiole: number of prickles many (White Bush Scallop) many 11. Flower pistillate flower: average 11.7 cm 14.4 cm diameter pistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average pedicel 1.9 cm 4.2 cm length pistillate flower: margin shape curved curved pistillate flower: margin edges frilled frilled pistillate flower: average sepal 0.6 mm 1.2 mm width pistillate flower: average sepal 3.2 mm 6 mm length pistillate flower: color orange orange pistillate flower: color (RHS 23A 23A Color Chart) staminate flower: average sepal 16 mm 16.5 mm length staminate flower: average sepal 1.4 mm 2.3 mm width staminate flower: average pedicel 113 mm 178.25 mm length staminate flower: color orange deep yellow female flower: ring at inner side present (Aurore) present of corolla female flower: color of ring at green (Aurore, Early White yellow and green inner side of corolla Bush Scallop, President) female flower: intensity of green weak (Maya, Sardane) weak color of ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla) male flower: ring at inner side of present (Goldi) present corolla male flower: color of ring at green (Austral, Belor, Goldi) green inner side of corolla male flower: intensity of green medium (Verdi) medium color of ring at inner side of corolla staminate flower: color 23A 14A 12. Fruit market maturity: average length 16.8 cm 18.3 cm market maturity: average width - 2.9 cm 3.9 cm stem end at market maturity: average 5.3 cm 3.4 cm width - blossom end market maturity: average weight 189 gm 240.9 gm market maturity: shape according straightneck straightneck to variety type market maturity: apex rounded rounded market maturity: base rounded flattened market maturity: ribs inconspicuous inconspicuous market maturity: rib furrow depth shallow shallow market maturity: rib furrow medium wide narrow width market maturity: fruit surface shallowly wavy smooth market maturity: warts none none market maturity: blossom scar raised acorn raised acorn button young fruit: ratio length/ large (Carlotta) medium maximum diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit: general shape cylindrical (Ambassador, cylindrical (zucchini and rounded zucchini Ibis) type varieties) young fruit: main color of skin green (Elite, Opal, Romano) green (excluding color of ribs or grooves) young fruit: intensity of green dark (Arlesa, Sandra, Zefira) dark color of skin (excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color of skin) general shape cylindrical club shaped length (zucchini type varieties) long (Carlotta) short maximum diameter (zucchini small (Goldi) small type varieties) ratio length/maximum diameter large (Carlotta) medium (zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and neck rounded rounded type varieties) grooves absent present ribs present present protrusion of ribs weak (Ambassador) weak main color of skin (excluding green (Ambassador, Baby green color of dots, patches, stripes and Bear) bands) intensity of green color of skin very dark (Baby Bear, medium (excluding color of dots, patches, Sardane) stripes and bands; varieties with green color or skin) stripes in grooves absent (Baby Bear, Jack Be absent Little) color of ribs compared to main same (Grey Zucchini) same color of skin (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands) dots present (Gold Rush, Table present Queen) size of main dots very small (Badger Cross) very small secondary green color between absent (Grey Zucchini, absent ribs (excluding dots) Small Sugar) warts on skin absent absent size of flower scar medium (Spidi) medium length of peduncle very short (Arlesa) medium color of peduncle green (Ambassador) green intensity of green color of dark (Gold Rush) medium peduncle mottling of peduncle present (Elite) present ripe fruit: secondary color of skin green green (excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: color of flesh cream (Elite) cream ripe fruit: lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure of flesh fibrous (Vegetable fibrous Spaghetti) type zucchini if zucchini type: patches, stripes absent (Ambassador, Black of bands in ripe stage Jack) 13. Rind average thickness at medial 1.6 mm 2.1 mm toughness hard hard overall color pattern regular regular main or ground color bronze yellowish green main or ground color (RHS Color N189A 151D Chart) 14. Flesh average blossom end thickness 6.7 mm 9.45 mm average medial thickness 19.2 mm 18.2 mm average stem end thickness 8.8 mm 16.2 mm texture (fine, granular, lumpy or fine fine stringy) texture (soft, firm or brittle) firm soft texture (dry, moist or juicy) moist juicy flavor insipid insipid quality good good color creamy-white creamy-white color (RHS Color Chart) 157A 157A 15. Seed Cavity average length 25 cm 28.7 cm average width 5.6 cm 5.85 cm location conforms to fruit shape conforms to fruit shape placental tissues abundant abundant center core inconspicuous inconspicuous 16. Fruit Stalks average length 1.7 cm 2.7 cm average diameter 1.3 cm 2.1 cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted not twisted tapering tapered not tapered straightness slightly curved straight texture hard spongy furrows shallow deep surface smooth smooth attachment end expanded expanded detaches with difficulty easily color dark green medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 137C 17. Seeds average length 13 mm 14.1 mm average width 7.8 mm 8.6 mm average thickness 2.4 mm 1.9 mm face surface smooth scaly color white cream color (RHS Color Chart) 155B 162D luster dull dull margin curved curved margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulp easy easy average grams per 100 seeds 11 gm 11.6 gm average number of seeds per fruit 165 248.5 seed coat normal normal size small (Delicata) medium shape elliptic broad elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) present appearance of hull fully developed (Elite) fully developed color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Squash Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seed of squash hybrid PX 13056719 involving crossing squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention, hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100, or line ZGN 130-1079 may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used for propagation of hybrid PX 13056719 and/or the squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079, or can be used to produce plants that are derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or the squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. Plants derived from hybrid PX 13056719 and/or the squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 may be used, in certain embodiments, for the development of new squash varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties is well known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varieties may be created by crossing hybrid PX 13056719 followed by multiple generations of breeding according to such well known methods. New varieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selecting such a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines, it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initial crosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to produce new varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or more generations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way of double-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breeding lines without the need for multiple generations of selfing and selection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in as little as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced from microspores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploid embryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments (e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be grown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In either case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with the invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossing transfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbred source to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locus or loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are then mated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristic being transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almost all other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for the development of new lines based on the elite nature of the genetic background of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PX 13056719 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 for the purpose of developing novel squash lines, it will typically be preferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines of squash plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PX 13056719 exhibits desirable traits, as conferred by squash lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079. The performance characteristics of hybrid PX 13056719 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performance traits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics For Hybrid PX 13056719 Hybrid FINAL OYLOS EARLY PM SBA HABIT VIGOR SHAPE COLOR BES FREHR ESKENDERANY 6 5 5 8 6 4 6 6 5 4 3 MVR hybrid 1 5 5 6 3 7 3 5 6 6 4 5 MVR hybrid 2 5 4 5 9 3 5 4 7 5 6 4 PX 13056719 6 5 6 8 5 5 4 6 5 5 5

Table 4 shows the combined and averaged performance for PX 13056719 from 10 trials (19 replications total, 1-3 replications per sowing) in two years. MVR hybrid 1 and 2 are proprietary or commercial hybrids in the same market class, Eskenderany is a well known commercially available product that historically defines the market class. Ratings are made on a 1-9 scale, with a rating of 1 as ideal/best, and a rating of 9 as worst/most susceptible. FINAL: overall final subjective evaluation of the marketability of the variety in the observed trial. OYLOS: Observed yield score—hybrids with highest fruit yield (measured across entire harvest season) receive a location-normalized score from 1-9 based on yield ranking. EARLY: a yield rating (like OYLOS) observing only the first 30% of the harvest season. PM—powdery mildew disease rating (Podosphaera xanthii). SBA: Silvering disease due to reaction of the hybrid to feeding by the silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii). HABIT: Plant growth habit, subjective scale. VIGOR: Plant vigor, from highly vigorous to low vigor. SHAPE: fruit shape, best approximation of ideal fruit shape for market class (cylindrical, 3.5:1 Length:Diameter ratio). COLOR: Uniformity and intensity of market preference fruit color at harvest stage. BES: Blossom End Scar, approximately in millimeters. FREHR: Ease of Harvest for Fruit—subjective rating for frequency of fruits broken during hand harvesting and accessibility of fruits on the plants.

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein are provided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait. Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant via the backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant as used herein refers to those squash plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristics of a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in the same environment, other than an occasional variant trait that might arise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parental squash plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental squash plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a squash plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original variety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety is modified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrent and nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive and dominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny squash plants of a backcross in which a plant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired trait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of squash the recurrent parent as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. The technique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrent parents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used to replace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain more desirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtain different desirable characteristics from each.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not be transgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to, herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, and altered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inherited through the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as a dominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initial cross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of the corresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates any plants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and only those plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross. This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of squash plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used in accordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well as directly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetic transformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be used to insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may, alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can be introduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plants that are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to many crop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation, microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and direct DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ either friable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogenic callus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or other organized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partially degrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them to pectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues in a controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles are coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propelling force. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten, platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspension are concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively, immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culture medium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriate distance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plant cells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, which can be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through a screen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surface covered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so that they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates. Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may be used to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system for introducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique is that DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassing the need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. Modern Agrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E. coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations (Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is efficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and defined nature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediated plant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is well known in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methods based on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment, electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g., Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986; Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plants and expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al. (1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for any gene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers, scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance, nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest. Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expression include, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression in most plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); a tandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA virus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response to environmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can also be used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., 1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al., 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of this invention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from another species, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are present in the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells by genetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction or breeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended to refer to genes that are not normally present in the cell being transformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc., as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which are normally present and that one desires to express in a manner that differs from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express. Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any gene or DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless of whether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The type of DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is already present in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a different organism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequence containing an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding a synthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and could potentially be introduced into a squash plant according to the invention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and corresponding phenotypes one may choose to introduce into a squash plant include one or more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control, herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, and genes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements, environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plant physiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). For example, structural genes would include any gene that confers insect tolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control protein gene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, the structural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate as conferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strain CP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, or glyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes by encoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targeted inhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example via antisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Bird et al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all of which alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of the parents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce one or more single locus conversions from one genetic background into another.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes from different plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation of the organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemical agent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenic plants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets of chromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if their transmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited in codominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygote are readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e., heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, which characteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” are used interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to a specified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmental condition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing some symptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with an acceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant or tolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop, even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chart is a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of any color. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightness and saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart by identifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a squash variety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/or by genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does not show a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from the mean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has been introduced into the genome of a squash plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and inbred parent lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of each of the deposits was Sep. 23, 2010. The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of squash hybrid PX 13056719 and inbred parent lines LEB 48-4100 and ZGN 130-1079 are ATCC Accession No. PTA-11350, ATCC Accession No. PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession No. PTA-11351, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated herein by reference:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,365 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,275 -   An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988. -   Bird et al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991. -   Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989. -   Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965, 1988. -   Choi et al., Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994. -   Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990. -   Ellul et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 107:462-469, 2003. -   EP 534 858 -   Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985. -   Fromm et al., Nature, 312:791-793, 1986. -   Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989. -   Gibson and Shillito, Mol. Biotech., 7:125, 1997 -   Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985. -   Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989. -   Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988. -   Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989. -   Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985. -   Omirulleh et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993. -   Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985. -   Roshal et al., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987. -   Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991. -   Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988. -   Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989. -   Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985. -   Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990. -   Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986. -   Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998. -   Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990. -   WO 99/31248 

What is claimed is:
 1. A squash plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 2. A seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which is inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is hybrid.
 5. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is squash hybrid PX 13056719, a sample of seed of said hybrid PX 13056719 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11350.
 6. The plant of claim 1, wherein the plant is a plant of line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 7. A plant part of the plant of claim
 1. 8. The plant part of claim 7, further defined as a leaf, a ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 9. A squash plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the squash plant of claim
 5. 10. A squash plant having all the physiological and molphological characteristics of the squash plant of claim
 6. 11. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim 1, said cells comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 12. The tissue culture according to claim 11, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 13. A squash plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 12. 14. A method of vegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1 said method comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising growing at least a first plant from said rooted plantlets.
 16. A method of introducing a desired trait into a squash line, said method comprising: (a) crossing a plant of line LEB 48-4100 or ZGN 130-1079 with a second squash plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of line LEB 48-4100 or ZGN 130-1079 to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait and the physiological and morphological characteristic of squash line LEB 48-4100 or ZGN 130-1079; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise the desired trait.
 17. A squash plant produced by the method of claim
 16. 18. A method of producing a plant comprising an added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into a plant of hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11350, ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 19. A plant produced by the method of claim
 18. 20. The plant of claim 1, comprising a transgene.
 21. The plant of claim 20, wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 22. A plant produced by introducing a single locus conversion into a plant of squash line LEB 48-4100 or squash line ZGN 130-1079, or a selfed progeny thereof, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. A method for producing a seed of a plant derived from at least one of hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079, said method comprising the steps of: (a) crossing, a squash plant of hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079 with itself or a second squash plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11350, ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079-derived squash plant to form.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid PX 13056719, LEB 48-4100 or ZGN 130-1079-derived squash seed to yield additional hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079-derived squash seed; (d) growing said additional hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079-derived squash seed of step (c) to yield additional hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079-derived squash plants; and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate at least a first further hybrid PX 13056719, line LEB 48-4100 or line ZGN 130-1079-derived squash plant.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second squash plant is of an inbred squash line.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein step (a) comprises crossing line LEB 48-4100 with line ZGN 130-1079, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11352, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11351, respectively.
 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid PX 13056719, LEB 48-4100 or ZGN 130-1079-derived squash plant with a second squash plant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 29. An F1 hybrid seed produced by the method of claim
 27. 30. A plant produced by growing the seed of claim
 29. 31. A plant part of the plant of claim
 30. 32. The plant part of claim 31, further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 33. A method of producing a squash seed, said method comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second squash plant and allowing seed to form.
 34. A method of producing a squash fruit, said method comprising: (a) obtaining a plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a squash from the plant. 